Update on Our Legislative Priorities This Session

Below is a brief summary of what Nancy Sapiro, our AAUW State Lobbyist, has shared during her eleventh week participating in Washington State legislative sessions.

Protecting Pregnant Patients Act (SSB 5140), which passed both House and Senate, will ensure that health care providers [working in religiously affiliated hospitals] can provide pregnant patients with complications the necessary care they need and that their health and lives are not placed at risk, without risk of retaliation by their employer.

Removing Proof of Marriage in Sexual Assault Cases (SB 5177) passed the Senate and is in House committee. The language “and not married to the perpetrator” is used through the law to define who is guilty of a sex offense. Due to this, marriage can be used as a legal defense for rape, enabling sex offenders from other states to avoid registering in WA.

Working Families Tax Credit (ESHB 1297), which has passed the Senate and is in Senate committee, would provide a new cash benefit reaching 500,000 low- and moderate-income Washingtonians and a quarter of all Washington children.

Improving Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave (E2SHB 1073), which has passed the House, would improve access to paid family and medical leave.

Fair Starts for Kids Act (E2SHB 1213), which would substantially expand accessible, affordable childcare and early childhood development programs, passed the House and is in Senate committee.

Summary adapted from Nancy’s latest legislative report. For more details or to follow Nancy’s reports, click here.